How much actual writing for a 4th grader?

[Aconnolley]

I am hoping for some input here. :-)

 

My 9yo son will be in 4th grade this year. He is definitely a RELUCTANT writer. He is very musical and learns very easily by hearing, but hates to pick up a pencil. Every sentence is a struggle. I started him on WWE 2 this spring. His narrations are really coming along, and he fights the dictation tooth and nail. :-) I can see that it is helping him though.

 

How much writing should I require of him? (including all subjects but math)

He reads very well, but I read our history and science out loud. I have not required much writing in these subjects and he loves them! We will be using Easy Grammar, WWE 3, Time4Learning, and HWT Cursive. Spelling will mostly be on the computer. (Spelling City) Should I require more writing (notebooking or lapbooking etc) for history and science? I hate to squelch the love that he has for the subjects and make it something he dreads, but I know that he really has to start doing more writing this year.

 

Should I keep most of his writing separate? He is working on typing, and I hope to integrate that more this year. Writing almost looks painful for him.

 

Any advice would be welcome. He is my oldest, and I really don't know what the minimum writing requirement would be. My two daughters love to write and almost always have a pencil or crayons in their hands. At least I'll get a break there. :tongue_smilie: I get so tired of the having to push him to write.

 

advice anyone? :bigear:

 

Thanks!

Angela

[Snickerdoodle]

Well, I have a 9yo going to be 4th grader who is a very reluctant writer as well. While he can hold a pencil for drawing no problem, as long as it's used to form words it suddenly becomes an instrument of torture.

 

I have given him a pass these last years telling myself that he's a boy and that it's developmental yada yada but it does not seem to be getting easier for him.

 

**Mean Mommy Alert**

 

I think at some point the rubber needs to meet the road and I'm going to steadily increase the amount of writing this year. Right now my plan is to add more writing across the curriculum ala WTM. Have you listened to any of the audio lectures from SWB? It does make writing seem like something we can get our kids to accomplish.

[catz]

I would definitely push typing. Maybe even over the summer. Last fall I had my then 3rd grader participate in NaNoWriMo. That one month made a HUGE difference for him in ability to type. I think he did about 3500 story that month. Here is the info for NaNoWriMo if you aren't familiar

 

http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/

 

Anyway, his willingness to write has been completely changed because of his ability to type. He regularly asks to get on the computer to write up rules for his neighborhood spy club, to a script for a video he wants to make, to tracking what video games he wants for his birthday. :tongue_smilie:We use MCT and did many extra writing assignments last year and he usually typed it. He still did practice handwriting every day, but if he wants to type longer assignments, I'm fine with that. We also did HWT cursive.

[thowell]

I maybe wrong put I was under the assumption that at this age WWE is enough writing? I do also require dd10 to write one creative writing assignment a month. This is sometimes just one page that she can work on over a period of time. We make an outline together then she writes it on her own. We correct the rough draft together and then she can write or type the final copy. I have said it before dictation has really really improved her writing abilities. Although she is not found of the act of writing she is getting better. Also using a fountain pen has helped immensely! She tends to put way to much pressure with a pencil causing her hand to cramp.

[chiguirre]

I have a 9yo rising 3rd grader with OT and executive functioning issues that make hwing very difficult. I've had him writing 2 sentences each school day. I have to sit with him and help with spelling and mechanics, but I've definitely noticed an improvement. He still reverses some letters and spelling is still difficult, but he's got the capital and period down, and he is slowly getting better at spelling common words. My goal for this year is to build up to a paragraph by June 2011. I think this is doable.

[Aconnolley]

I haven't listened to the audio lectures yet, but I probably should. :-) I have always struggled with writing myself, so I feel quite inadequate to teach it.

 

I will definitely being pushing him to improve his typing skills. Maybe that will make writing a little less intimidating. :-)

 

So what do you think....in addition to WWE and cursive practice, should I require extra writing daily in other subjects?

[robsiew]

I haven't listened to the audio lectures yet, but I probably should. :-) I have always struggled with writing myself, so I feel quite inadequate to teach it.

 

I will definitely being pushing him to improve his typing skills. Maybe that will make writing a little less intimidating. :-)

 

So what do you think....in addition to WWE and cursive practice, should I require extra writing daily in other subjects?

 

My uprising 4th grader does the following writing:

 

WWE

a couple dictation sentences in AAS (spelling) (1-2 times/week)

3-4 sentences narration in history (1-2 times/week)

3-4 sentences narration in science (1-2 times/week)

 

Right now the history and science narrations go better if we discuss them ahead of time. Sometimes I write them out on the board and he copies them. He and his sister come up with the sentences on their own though. I will move this coming year to having him do them independently probably after Christmas or so.

I'm going to add in lab write ups in science the 2nd half of the year as well.

 

I think it's better you start now expecting the greater writing amounts... otherwise it will be **really** difficult the older he gets.... none of my children (except my 5 year old) is a natural writer. It's like pulling teeth all the time... I have noticed a HUGE difference since starting WWE though so continue that! The narration REALLY helps them get their thoughts together and the dictation has REALLY helped them hold thoughts in their head while they are trying to get it on paper.

 

I echo the idea to listen to SWB's writing lectures. She makes it seem "easy" to teach writing. Her recommendations have been working very well in our house! :001_smile:

[Aconnolley]

My uprising 4th grader does the following writing:

 

WWE

a couple dictation sentences in AAS (spelling) (1-2 times/week)

3-4 sentences narration in history (1-2 times/week)

3-4 sentences narration in science (1-2 times/week)

 

Right now the history and science narrations go better if we discuss them ahead of time. Sometimes I write them out on the board and he copies them. He and his sister come up with the sentences on their own though. I will move this coming year to having him do them independently probably after Christmas or so.

I'm going to add in lab write ups in science the 2nd half of the year as well.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to reply. That really helps to give me better perspective!

 

Angela